At A Glance

Noteworthy Characteristics

  • Includes a Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey on the availability of specific foods and opportunities for physical activity at schools.
  • Provides nationally representative data.
  • Collects data on specific issues relevant to school-age children quickly and with minimum response burden.

Website

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/

Purpose

To collect data about key education issues for children in elementary and secondary schools in the United States (U.S.).

Target Population

Elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. The survey covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Conducted

Began in 1975. Conducted periodically. Most recent year conducted was 2016-2017.

Sponsor

National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

Special Note(s)

The FRSS surveys most relevant to childhood obesity research are the 2005 Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey, the 1995 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, K-12 survey, and the 1997 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5.

Sampling

Sample Design

Cross-sectional, multistage stratified design, nationally representative. For further information on sampling design see:

1995 Nutrition Education Survey

1997 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5

2005 Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey

Sample Size

Approximately 1,000 to 1,500 respondents per survey (school staff).

Approximately 1,100 elementary schools included in the 2005 Food and Physical Activity in Public Elementary Schools survey.

Approximately 1,200 teachers and 700 elementary schools included in the 1997 Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5.

Approximately 900 public elementary, middle, and high schools included in the 1995 Nutrition Education Survey.

Key Variables

Demographic

NameMethods of Assessment
Percent students eligible for free or reduced price lunchInterview/questionnaire (school staff).

Diet-Related

NameMethods of Assessment
A la carte items available at school (including cafeteria, vending machines, school stores, and snack bars)Interview/questionnaire (school staff).
Content of nutrition education and nutrition education activities outside of standard curriculumInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Hot lunch served at school and types of foods servedInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Inclusion and placement of nutrition education in school curriculumInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Involvement of school meal program staff and parents in elementary school nutrition educationInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Resources and support for nutrition education (e.g., availability and types of instructional materials)Interview/questionnaire (school staff).
School contracts with companies to sell food at school and types of food soldInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Teacher training in nutrition educationInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Times when various types of food services are available to studentsInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Whether nutrition education is a requirementInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Whether teachers taught nutrition education during school year, integration into other subjects, and strategies used to teach nutritionInterview/questionnaire (school staff).

Physical Activity-Related

NameMethods of Assessment
Efforts to encourage physical activityInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Frequency and length of physical education classesInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Frequency and length of recess in elementary schoolsInterview/questionnaire (school staff).
Physical assessment of studentsInterview/questionnaire (school staff).

Geocode/Linkage

NameMethods of Assessment
RegionN/A

Data Access and Cost

Data Availability

Download data.

Cost

Free of charge.

Special Note(s)

Contact the FRSS helpdesk to obtain clearance for access to restricted-use datasets.

Geocode/Linkage

Geocode Variable(s)

Region.

Existing Linkages

None noted.

Selected Publications

Click here for a full list of publications.

Diet-Related

Celebuski C, Farris E. Nutrition education in public elementary and secondary schools. Statistical analysis report. Fast Response Survey System (FRSS). Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1996. NCES 96-852.

Celebuski C, Farris E. Nutrition education in public elementary school classrooms, K-5. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2000. NCES 2000-040.

Parsad B, Lewis L. Calories in, calories out: Food and exercise in public elementary schools, 2005. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2006. NCES 2006–057.

Resources

Data Query System

Data Analysis System

Documentation/Codebook(s)

Publications and Products